Honouring Maharashtra’s Dynamic and Sensitive Leader in the Form of Nitin Gadkari – Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Conferred with Lokmanya Tilak National Award

Pune, Aug 25: Nitin Gadkari is not just a “Man of Vision” but a “Man of Action.” His extensive work has transformed the lives of thousands. Presenting him with the Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2025 is a recognition of his dynamic and sensitive personality, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Speaking at the award ceremony where Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari was conferred with the Lokmanya Tilak National Award in the presence of Chief Minister Fadnavis, dignitaries included Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, former Chief Minister and Trust Trustee Sushilkumar Shinde, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant (Dada) Patil, Minister of State Madhuri Misal, President of Lokmanya Tilak Smarak Trust Rohit Tilak, Dr. Geetali Tilak, Dr. Pranati Tilak, MLAs Vijay Shivtare, Bhimrao Tapkir, Vishwajeet Kadam, Bapusaheb Pathare, Harshvardhan Patil, Prakash Javadekar, among others.

CM Fadnavis said, “The concept of presenting this award to individuals whose work reflects the proud spirit of Lokmanya Tilak in modern India is remarkable. This spirit is clearly visible in Nitin Gadkari’s personality. His leadership is visionary, forward-thinking, and he consistently strives to uplift society through his innovative approach. He is a researcher at heart, possessing vast knowledge across agriculture, engineering, medicine, industry, architecture, and science. His focus is always on how these innovations can reach the common people.”

Fadnavis emphasized Gadkari’s “never die attitude” as his core trait, which enables him to undertake monumental projects with courage. He recalled how Atal Bihari Vajpayee entrusted Gadkari with the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana after witnessing his successful completion of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also recognized these qualities, assigning him the task of transforming India’s roads and highways. “Earlier, we used to go abroad to see world-class infrastructure. Today, the world looks towards India — this is Gadkari’s success,” he added.

Paying tribute to Lokmanya Tilak on his death anniversary, Fadnavis said that after the failure of the 1857 freedom struggle, a sense of despair had gripped the country. However, through various public festivals and social programs, Tilak re-united a fragmented society, which later fueled the Indian freedom movement. He highlighted Tilak’s legacy as a visionary leader, astronomer, mathematician, commentator, critic, editor, and writer, stating that Nitin Gadkari is a truly deserving recipient of an award named after such a multifaceted leader.

Nitin Gadkari Pledges to Build Tilak’s Dream of India with Greater Zeal
Accepting the award, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said Lokmanya Tilak is an eternal source of inspiration and a role model for all Indians. He said, “Receiving an award in Tilak’s name is an immense honor. It increases my responsibility, and I pledge to work even harder to build the India of Lokmanya Tilak’s dreams.”

Gadkari stressed the importance of working diligently to realize Tilak’s vision of Swadeshi (self-reliance), Swavalamban (self-sufficiency), and Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). He said, “India has abundant wealth and technology. What is needed is sincere effort for the nation.” He pointed out that India has surpassed Japan in the automobile sector to become the third-largest market after the U.S. and China, and with determined efforts, India can become the number one global power.

He highlighted several infrastructure projects, including a ₹12,000 crore tunnel in the Brahmaputra region, promotion of e-cars and e-buses, irrigation projects in Western Maharashtra, and ongoing work worth ₹50,000 crore in Maharashtra. He mentioned that the new Mumbai-Pune Highway and the Mumbai-Bangalore Highway would reduce travel time between Mumbai and Pune to just 1.5 hours. Gadkari assured that there would be no discrimination in development projects.

This Honor is a Tribute to a Master Builder of Modern India – Deputy CM Eknath Shinde
Deputy CM Eknath Shinde praised Gadkari as a true and generous leader from Maharashtra, saying, “Lokmanya Tilak gave the mantra of Swarajya (self-rule) to Indians from Pune. It is a matter of pride that Gadkari, who embodies Tilak’s spirit of efficiency and action, is receiving this award.” Shinde lauded Gadkari’s contributions to Mumbai’s flyovers, highways, and ports, emphasizing his pivotal role in transforming India’s infrastructure.

Recognition of Progressive, Visionary, and Inclusive Leadership – Deputy CM Ajit Pawar
Congratulating Gadkari, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said, “Lokmanya Tilak was a visionary leader who fearlessly expressed his views and was dedicated to nation-building. Gadkari, who follows these ideals, is a rightful recipient of this award. Nitin Gadkari is not just a successful politician but also an innovative farmer, farsighted entrepreneur, social worker, and development-oriented leader.”

Pawar emphasized that Gadkari’s thought process is clear and bold, which reflects in his decisions and work. “He has created an extensive road network across India, setting an example of people-centric politics that transcends party lines. His sensitivity and commitment to Maharashtra’s development are evident in his work. This award is a tribute to a development-driven, prudent, and inclusive leadership,” Pawar added.

Rohit Tilak, in his introductory remarks, mentioned that the award was started by the late Jayant Tilak in 1983, with S.M. Joshi being its first recipient. The award honors individuals who contribute to making India a progressive nation and enhancing its global reputation. This year, the Trust unanimously selected Nitin Gadkari for his transformative work in connecting the nation through roads.

A tribute was paid to the late Deepak Tilak at the beginning of the program. A book detailing the achievements of previous awardees was also released by Chief Minister Fadnavis on this occasion.